$1444 and a Thank You to a Nobody

By Marcus Wyler

What could you do with $1444?

You could go on a 7 night cruise or spend a weekend in Vegas.

You could buy a big screen HDTV.

You could probably even feed an entire village in Africa for a year for $1444.

OR if you are one of the millions of Americans without medical insurance, like I am, you could possibly get charged $1444 for a Parkland Hospital Rape Kit.

I know what you're thinking, "$1444 for a Rape Kit?! This can't be true!" Well I can't believe it either. I certainly don't want to believe it. But I have the bill staring at me in the face.

I was actually going to just pay it and move on but then a rude little nobody told me today that Texas doesn't charge victims for rape kits, that they are covered by some sort of law, and to do some research on it.

So I did my research and this is what I found out:

Since the Violence Against Women Act (One of Joe Biden's biggest Achievements) was signed into law, States have been required to cover the cost of forensic exams for victims of sexual assault in order to receive federal funding.

Today most states have enacted laws specifically designating a certain entity as the payment source for forensic exams. Under the Act's provisions, these entities have three options for compliance:

1. The entity itself can provide forensic exams to victims free of charge
2. The entity can arrange for victims to obtain exams from another source at no cost to the victims
3. The entity can reimburse the victims for the cost of such exams

If the 3rd option is used then certain conditions must be met by the paying entity:

• reimbursement must cover the full amount paid by the victim without limitation or deductibles.
• victims must be given at least one year from the date of the exam to apply for reimbursement
• reimbursement must be given within 90 days of written notification of the victims incurred expense
• the entity must provide information to all victims at the time exam is conducted concerning procedures for obtaining the reimbursement.

In the State of Texas, the entity responsible for covering the cost of a rape kit is divided into two parts, Texas Crime Victims Compensation and the law enforcement agency requesting that's requesting the victim to have the examination performed. In my case that would be the Dallas Police Department.

So I went to the Dallas Police Department Website to see if I could find out which option they chose, 1, 2, or 3. They chose option 3. The victims pays upfront and then you get reimbursed.

Texas Crime Victims Compensation is the state program that actually reimburses the victims expenses and the law enforcement agency is responsible for giving you the claim form at the time of your examination and sending your claim form along with other required documents to Texas Crime Victims Compensation.

The Dallas Police, Texas Crime Victims Compensation, and Parkland hospital all failed to tell us about any of this.

So even though this nobody left me a comment that was both hateful and rude. I have to thank him for pissing me off so much that I researched to try and prove him wrong but ultimately proved myself wrong. If it weren't for him I would of paid $1444 and never would have figured out the way to get reimbursed.


P.S.

Dear Nobody,

I think its hilarious that you think you know someone "close" to Mason, nobody in your world is close to Mason, nobody. As for his end in the "major" DVD based studio world. You are probably right. The last "major" studio movie he did was in June 2008. Although I don't see why that is relevant, I don't think either of us ever claimed that he was a star or that his career would last very long. But thanks again for helping me out with my reimbursement and for giving me something to write about, you nobody.

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Sources: U.S. News & World Report, Dallas Police, Violence Against Women Act, Department of Health